Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a state-level initiative modeled on federal government efficiency (DOGE) to reduce government spending and streamline operations. The governor has shown that artificial intelligence will be used to help achieve the initiative’s objectives, particularly in audits of the state university system.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in accordance with federal measures at the state level to eliminate “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Over a one-year period, the governor will try to set 70 state commissions and committees to sunset, cut 900 positions, universities will undergo independent reviews and audits, and consider local government spending He said he would request that.
“We’re excited about this effort to take some of the things we’ve seen in Washington and apply it to Florida by taking what they’re doing with Elon Musk,” DeSantis said in Tampa on Monday. He spoke at a press conference.
Musk and the Trump administration’s Doge have significantly cut the federal government and fired thousands of probation and full-time employees from the Department of Education, Small Business Management and Energy, the Department of Defense, and more.
Florida already has a government efficiency task force approved by statewide voters in 2006 as part of a state constitutional reform, and “develops recommendations to improve government operations and reduce costs.” We need to meet every four years with the aim of doing so.”
Desantis also used his time at lecturers to blow up the Biden administration for its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, criticizing federal spending practices, saying, “What to do in Washington to try to get the ship right?” I know if they need to do it. If they just let America operate like Florida, we’re fine.”
The governor, who said the state would achieve its goals with the help of artificial intelligence, said the audit would be “doge-ing of the state university system.”
Additionally, Desantis said the state will conduct deep dives of university operations and spending, including debt and financial management practices. It also includes a course catalogue and staff survey to ensure Florida students are receiving the optimal education to ensure meaningful employment after graduation.
“If you want to do this, I’ll go to Berkeley, California and go to some of these other places,” DeSantis said. “We don’t want to do something like this in Florida.”
Manny Diaz Jr., executive director of the state board of trustees, who also serves the state’s university system, and Florida State Board of Education, spoke in support of Florida’s “dosing.”
However, some federal agencies have publicly directed employees to ignore Doge’s efforts. Recently, the U.S. Personnel Management requested a list of federal employees’ performance over the past week advertised by Musk on social media. “A failure to respond will be considered a resignation,” Musk said.
According to USA Today, the Department of Defense, led by Trump’s ally, a solid Trump alliance, Pete Hegses, has provided guidance against requests in public forums rather than emails and other forms of communication across staff. It has been published.
“If necessary, the department will coordinate responses to emails received from OPM,” the agency said on Musk’s social media site X. “For now, please pause your response to your OPM email.”
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows the majority of Americans (58%) worry that federal innovators in masks could harm services, such as social security retirement payments and student assistance. I’m doing it.
Looking forward to 2026
DeSantis also took the time to comment on the governor’s race, criticizing R-Naples’ Rep. Byron Donald, who said, “He was part of the victory we had on these left, on the left. There was no. As previously reported, Donald was “pre-approved” by President Trump last week on social media. If he decides to run, I have my full and full approval. Run, Byron, Run! ” Trump posted on Truth Social, a social media site he owns.
However, he mentions his wife, Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis, as the name thrown into the governor’s race in 2026, and she talks with the late conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh. It reminded me of.
“He pointed to her, ‘The only person I want is my governor rather than you are her.’ And I think that’s pretty good support,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said the search for the lieutenant governor and the new chief financial officer will wait until after the Florida legislative meeting, which begins next week.
Former Lieutenant Colonel Janet Nunez, currently interim president of Florida International University and current CFO Jimmy Patronis, resigned on March 31, to become the first seat in Congressional District, where former Niceville Rep. Matt Gates has been vacant. I’m running for office.
“We want to focus on what’s really important, and we want to see how some people in Congress, those who are part of Congress can play over the next few weeks. “We’re doing that,” DeSantis said.
USA Today Network’s State Watchdog Reporter AnaGoñi-Lessan-Florida can visit agonilessan@gannett.com.
